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My magazine article for my Double Page Spread.

Double Page Spread Article

“My breakthrough as an artist has turned me from little, unpopular EMO girl to Alternative rock star”

British dwelling girl Gemma Shakespeare who is the lead vocalist for Pursuit of the Heroine has had a major impact on Alternative Rock over the past few months. At only sixteen, Gemma has taken the Rock community by storm with a number debut one single “Seeing through One eye”, in over sixteen countries in the Rock/Alternative charts. The single sold 92,000 copies in just one week in the UK and is part on the new studio Album “All Seeing” which has a total of 12 tracks. This album is to be released early 2011 but no official date has been made and features major artists such as: Hayley Williams (Paramore) and Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro). “This album is expected to have a bigger impact than my single.” Said Gemma Shakespeare in an interview earlier today.

Gemma got her breakthrough after finishing school at sixteen, and not having any passion about carrying on at post sixteen education. She said “I’d rather leave school and pursue a music carrier than be bullied by the “CHAV” social group.
Gemma liked to go buskin on the streets of Doncaster from her early teenage years. She would go after school, at weekends or any of her free time. Her main songs were acoustic ballads on the streets, but she also she played the electric guitar.
Whist Gemma was busking one weekend when the head of a major successful record label, Rock Haven, spotted her and thought “She is good. We need to sign her up”
Bill Donington the head of Rock Haven record label said “I saw talent in Gemma from when I first set eyes on her”. Bill invited Gemma to come to a major studio in London with all travel expenses paid for. Gemma wasn’t the only person invited for an interview and to see how talented she was. Bill said “Well obviously Gemma was one of the most talented”.
Well this all happened six months ago. From Victim to superstar.





“Maybe it’s because I’m a girl?”

Do you have many fans?
Gemma: I think so? (laughs) Well I get lots of fan mail
Interview: Really? Is it mainly female or mail?
Gemma: Well, both really. But I’d say more male.
Interview: Why do you think that is?
Gemma: Hmmm… I am not really sure? Maybe it’s because I’m a girl?

What is it like to have become famous all of a sudden?
Gemma: I am used to just being the unpopular kid at school … Yeah I’m kinda a geek. So this is really weird. All of my fans are awesome!
Interview: So you think it is strange?
Gemma: Yes. I can’t really explain because it’s great!

Do you have any spare time lately?
Gemma: Not really… Most of the time we are recording songs for my new album.
Interview: Is that frustrating?
Gemma: Sometimes. But I enjoy doing what I do, so I think its best for me.

When will you start touring the UK and other countries?
Gemma: I think I will start after my album has been out a months.
Interview: Why wait that long?
Gemma: It will let my fans get to know my songs and what they mean to me. So they will understand them and be more excited.

Why is your single called “Seeing through one eye”?
Gemma: *(aughs) ermm… My mum is bind in one eye.
Interview: Really?
Gemma: Yes, because she is blind in one eye I wondered what its like to see through one eye. So I wrote a song about it.

What advice would you give people who would like to become musicians?
Gemma: That’s a hard one. Well the only thing I did was keep singing and doing what I love. I guess I’m just a lucky person who got spotted.
Interview: Do you actually think it was luck? Not pure talent?
Gemma: Well I do think I was a lucky person because nobody knew where Bill would be. And yes if I wasn’t talented I wouldn’t be in a good career at the moment.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Gemma: With wrinkles, one grey hair and bigger boobs.
Interview: I mean with your music career!
Gemma: Ohhh… I hope to be still singing and performing. And hopefully I will still have all of my fans.


What is your favorite meal?
Gemma: Hmmm... Curry.
Interview: What kind?
Gemma: Chicken Tika
Interview: Why?
Gemma: Because it tastes soooo GOOD (smiles).
Interview: Well personally I don’t like it.
Gemma: You must be insane.

Gamu Article Rewrite

So I take it you watched The X-Factor on Sunday night? Well most people do! If you didn’t you won’t know that talented gentle Gamu didn’t make it to the final twelve. Chezza Cole crushed gentle little Gamu Nhengu’s dreams. Instead, she let two girls through who . . . well, who did more “acting” than singing. Talk about drama queens. One who is a wannabe Cheryl but shorter and orange? The other being the over dramatic gruff voiced drama queen Katie. What’s with her style? Is it raining inside or something? Then why does she need a parasol or should I say “brolly”. Next its sunglasses in a storm!

Gamu has since suffered with lots of media attention. She got a "double blow". Basically one punch from Chezza and another from our country. A double blow is where two stories are put together. Gamu’s stories are: she is not in the quarter-finals because of Chezza being racist, but also now she is likely to be deported back to Zimbabwe, after her mums visa expired. Not only did Gamu’s mum make a silly error, which made the application be "out of time", but she has claimed benefits which she should not have received... money grabber.

The headlines which shocked the whole of Britain hit Chezza by storm. Some say that Chezza is racist! This resulted in death threats and Facebook groups. “Every1 has a bullet for Cheryl Cole”. So Chezza has buffed up her protection with more body guards due to little threats on her safety. Yeah Geordie Chezza has to be protected because she so “important”. Chezza splashes the cash whilst the roads around Gamu's home were closed after crowds gathered bearing banners supporting her by protesting her X Factor elimination.

Even with so many fans Gamu should not be allowed to return to The X-Factor without a visa, what about the other contestants? They all have visas and made to through the rounds fair and square. No special treatment should be allowed. This will make a brilliant competition as usual with Mary Bryne and Matt Cardle making a huge impact. People are saying that the one and only Simon Cowell should have snapped Gamu up as soon as her saw her. Well I think there are many other stars out there. Just because her Visa ran out doesn’t mean she should because famous. I would understand if everyone turned off The X-Factor but I doubt they would.

Big Cheese Magazine Double page spread analysis.
The main featured article is spread over six pages.
The First and Second page have one large image and one column of text.
The Third and Fourth also has one large image and one column of text.
The Fifth and Sixth have 2 smaller images taking up half a page each and four small columns of text.


First and Second pages.
This image relates to the Cover by being the same band and what the main article is about.
The image covers three quarters of the actual double page. Image is plain and simple with a white background and all band members stood in a line. This image shows the band is the main focus. The image looks natural and creates a calm atmosphere.

Only one column is used for text and very little and is located on the left page.
The text itself which is used is in a sans serif typeface. The first word in the article is “ENGAGED” which is in capital letters. This is to get the reader engaged. Also a quote is used from the interview with the band. This text is a larger script typeface. This text stands out due to its difference.  The white and black colours are used for the house style also but the green and pink are not used unlike the cover.

 

Third and Fourth pages.
These two pages are very similar to the first and second pages of the featured article. One large image taking up three quarters of the page but this time the column of the text is located on the right hand side.
The image is a midshot of all band members stood in a line like the other page. This image is also natural looking and calm. The background is blurred to make the band the centre of the attention.

Text is sans serif and continues from the first and second pages. These pages also have a quote by a band member and it’s larger than the other text to stand out and also in a script typeface.
The layout is exactly the same as the first two pages which make it very easy for the magazine editor by letting them just reverse the layout to link the four pages together. The house colours are used again.

Fifth and Sixth pages.

Two smaller images are used on the last two pages of the article. Four columns are used but are smaller than the other pages. So if put together the images would take up one page and columns would take up two full length column spaces , so it would also be one page.
The images used are also natural looking but the background isn’t blurred this time. Because the images are small they don’t give off an important impression unlike the other images used. One of the images has the band in again but also a piano which gives a sense they are a band. The background has not been blurred because it doesn’t need to be... The band catches your eye enough by being close to the camera which leaves not a lot of background showing.

Text which is used in a sans serif typeface again which is used throughout the entire article. Also another quote has been used in a larger script typeface. This links the pages together making them feel as one. Several lines of text are written in bold to stand out. This is due to the text being questions being asked to the band so people will want to read.

RnB and Rock Magazine Comparison

Both of these magazines both have a similar house styles by the use of red and white. However Flavour and Kerrang are completely opposite, in terms of genre. Flavour being RnB and Kerrang being Rock.

On both of these issues the mastheads and coverlines are white which stands out a lot from the backgrounds. But Kerrang uses a more “punk” style to its masthead which looks like its falling apart which appeals to its target audience. Flavour uses a simple sleek serif sans text for its masthead.

Both magazines use puffs and plugs. Flavour uses a lot whilst Kerrang only uses a few. Kerrangs puffs are less attractive by the use of the word “exclusive”. Whilst Flavour only uses “Hottest” and “Win”. These puffs on Flavour get you more attracted due to the fact that you could win something and “Hottest” makes you think that it is the best designers who’s clothes or merchandise  are the best and you would look great in it, (better than everyone else).

Both magazines use females on the cover. This could be used as a selling point for men to buy because of the main colour being red. Men are naturally attracted to women and the colour red.

Kerrang uses a portrait close-up of their cover star that the lead article will be about and Flavour uses a full shot of two women for theirs. Flavour would attract men more than women due to the fact men are naturally attracted to women and that the women are not covering a lot of their bodies up.

Kerrangs layout is very busy with a lot cramped into the bottom space of the page with images and large text. Whilst Flavour is widely spread out with no other images other than cover image. Kerrang uses image rather than lots of words to show what’s inside which the less educated might find more appealing.

The typeface used on Flavour is sans serif which creates a more relaxed cover which is not formal. This typeface is used all over the cover for all of the text which works well. However Kerrang uses a display typeface which is the same as its masthead for the “Paramore” text to emphasize that’s it is just as important as the masthead. Other typefaces are used also. There are two which are used; they are serif and sans serif. Using both of the typefaces for text works well because they stand out from one another.

Kerrang uses quite large text and a lot of effects to make it stand out and look more 3D. Flavour just uses basic simple text which is reasonably sized and doesn’t stand out that much.

Flavour does not have a barcode, bur Kerrang does.

Photo Ideas

These are some edited photos for my magazine.

Magazine Masthead ideas

These are some Masthead ideas for my Alternative Rock Magazine "Panik"